Apparatus for handling disabled persons

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to apparatus for handling hospital patients or other persons who are disabled or infirm. The apparatus comprises a lifting arm having a free end portion movable with respect to the remainder of the arm to either of two operative positions. In one operative position the arm is adapted for the attachment of patient support means employing a sling arrangement, and in the other operative position the arm is adapted for the attachment of a rigid patient support member. When a rigid support member is used it is desirably in the form of a legless chair. The apparatus is preferably of mobile form, comprising a wheeled chassis with an upstanding column from which the arm projects.

United States Patent 1 James [111 3,732,584 1 May 15, 1973 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING DISABLED PERSONS [75] Inventor: David Richard James, l-lasfield,

Gloucester, England [73] Assignee: Mecanaids Limited, Gloucester, En-

gland [22] Filed: June 21,1971

[2]] Appl No.: 155,037

[52] US. Cl ..5/8l, 5/86 [51] Int. Cl ..A6lg l/02, A61g 7/10 [58] Field of Search ..5/8l, 86, 87-89 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,623,169 11/1971 James ..5/8l R 3,407,413 10/1968 James ..5/81 R 3,270,353 9/1966 Berthelsen et al. ..5/8l R Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Att0rney Young & Thompson [57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to apparatus for handling hospital patients or other persons who are disabled or infirm.

The apparatus comprises a lifting arm having a free end portion movable with respect to the remainder of the arm to either of two operative positions. In one operative position the arm is adapted for the attachment of patient support means employing a sling arrangement, and in the other operative position the arm is adapted for the attachment of a rigid patient support member.

When a rigid support member is used it is desirably in the form of a legless chair. The apparatus is preferably of mobile form, comprising a wheeled chassis with an upstanding column from which the arm projects.

14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED HAY] 51975 3,732,584

' SHEET 1 0F 2 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING DISABLED PERSONS This invention relates to apparatus for handling hospital patients or other persons who are disabled or infirm. It is concerned with apparatus which is designed to lift the patient from one situation and then deposit the patient in another situation, for example to lift a patient from a bed and deposit the patient in a sitting position in a wheel chair.

The invention is of particular, but not exclusive, application to such apparatus comprising a mobile chassis on which a lifting arm is supported, the patient in turn being supported by support means at the outer end of the arm. In some cases the support means employ a sling or arrangement of slings looped beneath and around the patient, while in others a rigid support member, preferably in the form of a legless chair, is used. Both these arrangements have their advantages and disadvantages, but up to the present a givenapparatus has been usable with one type of patient support or the other, i.e., a slung support or a rigid support, but not with both. The object of the invention is to provide apparatus which will enable alternative use to be made of slung and rigid patient supports.

According to one aspect of the invention apparatus for handling disabled or infirm persons comprises a lifting arm having a free end portion movable with respect to the remainder of the arm to either of two operative positions, in one operative position the arm being adapted for the attachment of patient support means employing a sling arrangementand in the other operative position of the free arm portion the arm being adapted for the attachment of a rigid. support member, for example in the form of a legless chair.

Preferably in the one operative position the free arm portion extends generally horizontally as a continuation of the main remaining portion of the arm, and it may be provided with a lateral suspension hanger which projects from the arm and provides spaced suspension points for a patient support sling. This hanger may be in accordance with our U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,169. When in use the ends of the hanger may project forwardly and downwardly from the free end of the arm, and it is preferred that when the end portion of the arm is in the other operative position the hanger can be turned round so that the ends thereof extend alongside the arm portionout of the way.

In the other operative position the free end portion preferably projects mainly downwardly and; slightly forwardly of the main arm portion, so that it provides an upper attachment point for the rigid support member and a reaction support for that member at a lower level. Movement of the arm in operation from the one operative position to the other may be achieved by way of articulation preferably the end portioncan be swung downwardly from the one to the other operative position about an axis disposed laterally and horizontally of the arm, although the same result may be achieved by having an articulation axis disposed in a vertical plane but inclined forwardly and downwardly away from the main arm portion. In either case means will be provided to lock the two portions in the adjusted position, but other forms of relative movement may be employed. Thus the free end portion of the arm may be detachable, so thatit can be detached and refitted after it has been turned round in order to provide the alternative operative position.

According to another aspect of the invention, apparatus for handling disabled or infirm persons comprises a lifting arm mounted on a mobile chassis and means to raise and lower the arm, the latter being formed with an outer end portion movable between an operative position in which a slung patient support is attachable to the arm and another operative position in which an altemative patient support can be rigidly mounted on the arm.

Preferably the apparatus employs lifting means enclosed within a column along which the arm can be raised or lowered, although a pivoted arm arrangement may be employed. In the latter case a parallelogram arm construction is desirably used so that the orientation of the rigid support member, when used, does not change as the patient-is raised or lowered.

One form of mobile patient handling apparatus, designed with hospital use particularly in mind, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will now be described, by way of example, with reference thereto.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective'view showing the apparatus, in one operative condition, with a patient supported in a sling arrangement,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of the apparatus, in the other operative condition, with a patient supported by a rigid support member in the form of a legless chair,

FIG. 3'is a detail fragmentary side view, to a larger scale, illustrating a portion of a lifting arm of the apparatus in the condition of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line IV IV in FIG. 3.

The apparatus comprises a wheeled tubular chassis 11 which is open at the forward end between parallel side members 12 which at the rear end are joined by a cross member 13. A lifting column 14 projects from the center of the cross member and is desirably vertical as shown, although it may be inclined in a fore-and-aft plane. The column 14 incorporates a roller chain elevator or screw jack by which a rigid cantilever lifting arm 15 projecting from the column may be raised and lowered. The screw jack is operated by a winding handle 16 mounted at a suitable height at the rear of the column. This handle has two lever arms with hand grips so that it may be held handlebar fashion to propel and maneuver the apparatus.

The arm 15 is divided into two portions, namely a main portion 15a attached to and projecting from the column 14 and a free end portion 15b which is attached to the main portion 15a for articulation about a lateral and horizontal axis 17 between two operative positions. Inone operative position, shown in FIG. 1 and in broken lines in FIG. 3, the end portion 15b projects horizontally away from and in effect provides a continuation of the main portion 15a, and in the other operative position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 it projects mainly downwardly but slightly forwardly from the articulation axis 17. Detent means comprising a spring loaded catch bolt 18 (see FIG. 3) positively locate the end portion in either of the operative positions, and when it is desired to move the arm the detent means can be freed manually by means of paired release members in the form of knobs 19 at the sides of the arm 15.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the projecting length of the arm portion a is of sandwich construction with a reduced thickness central section on opposite sides of which cheek plates 22 are attached. One of these plates 22 is removed in FIG. 3 to show internal detail of the detent means. The bolt 18 projects from a guide slot 23 at the end of the section 20, and is urged to the projecting operative position shown by a bolt spring 24. The plates 22 project beyond the section 20 on either side of the adjacent end of the arm portion 15b, and a pivot 25 defining the axis 17 extends between the plates 22.

A rounded end of the arm 15b has edge notches 26 alternatively engageable by the bolt 18 to retain the arm portion 15b in one or other of said operative positions. The knobs 19 are eccentrically mounted at opposite ends of a cross shaft 27, which is sectioned through in FIG. 3 and which is mounted in bearing bores 28 in the plates 22. The shaft 27 has an enlarged diameter central section 27a, by which it is axially located between the plates 22, and this section turns in a cut out 31 in the arm section 20. The cut out 31 breaks into the guide slot 23, and a pin 29 which projects radially from the shaft section 27a engages an upper edge slot 30 in the bolt 18. Thus turning either of the knobs 19 in the anti-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, retracts the bolt 18 in order to free the arm portion 15b for movement to its other operative position.

A stop pin 32 mounted between the plates 22 passes through an arcuate slot 33 in the arm portion 15b. This pin 32 engages the ends of the slot 33 to limit movement of the arm portion.

A rigid vertical bearing 34 is built into the forward end of the arm portion 15b, considering that portion as being in said one operative'position, and this bearing supports a tubular suspension hanger 35. The hanger 35 is curved so that in the operative position, shown in FIG. 1, in which it projects laterally of the arm 15, the ends of the hanger project forwardly and downwardly with respect to the arm. The ends of the hanger have hooks or rings 36 providing spaced suspension points to each of which the corresponding ends of a buttocksupport sling 37 and backsupport sling 38 can be detachably detached by short chains 39. These slings 37 and 38 are of simple strip like form and enable a patient to be supported directly seated on the buttock sling 37 in front of and facing the column 14, as shown in FIG. 1, with the back of the patient supported against the back sling 38.

When the firm support of a rigid support member in the form of a legless chair 40 (see FIG. 2) is required, for example when handling frail elderly patients or when a legrest is essential, the slings 37 and 38 are de-' tached and the hanger 35 turned inwardly to an alternative position in which it projects alongside the arm portion 15b as shown in FIG. 2. The detent catch bolt 18 is released and the arm portion 15b dropped downwardly to the other operative position of FIGS. 2 and 3 in which a hook-like recess 42 formed on its inner side is upwardly facing and generally on a level with the articulation axis 17. A tubular back frame member 43 of the chair support is hooked into the recess 42, which is provided with a manually operable gravity catch member 44 so that when the chair support 40 is fitted it is securely held. The lower end of the downwardly projecting arm portion 15b provides a firm reaction support for the back of the chair support 40, against the weight of the latter and the patient seated thereon, as

can be seen from FIG. 2. Thus the chair support 40 is rigidly and positively attached, with the seat section 45 of the chair frame cantilevered forwardly from the lifting arm 15.

As shown in FIG. 3, the catch member 44 is housed in an edge recess 46 in the arm portion 15b. A stop pin 47 across this recess limits movement of the member 44 in the disengaged direction.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for handling disabled or infirm patients, comprising a lifting arm having a main portion attachable to a lifting column and a free end portion movable with respect to the main portion to either of two operative positions, in one operative position the arm being adapted for the attachment of patient support means employing a sling arrangement and in the other operative position of the free arm portion the arm being adapted for the attachment of a rigid patient support member, pivot means by which said arm portions are connected for movement of the free end portion between said positions about a horizontal axis disposed laterally of the arm, and manually operable catch means to lock the free portion in either one of said positions.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arm is adapted for attachment of a legless chair structure forming said rigid support member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end arm portion when in said one operative position extends generally horizontally as a continuation of the main remaining portion of the arm.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end arm portion is provided with a lateral suspension hanger which projects from the arm and provides spaced suspension points for a patient support sling, for use when the arm is in said one operative position.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the suspension hanger is mounted in a rigid bearing adjacent the end of the arm, whereby it is constrained to turn about a substantially vertical axis when the arm is in said one operative position.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ends of the hanger project forwardly and downwardly from the free end of the arm when the latter is in said one operative position.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the hanger can be turned round so that the ends thereof extend alongside the arm portion and are thus out of the way when the arm is in said other operative position.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the free end portion projects mainly downwardly and slightly forwardly of the main arm portion when in said other operative position, so that it provides an upper attachment point for the rigid support member and a reaction support for that member at a lower level.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said upper attachment point is provided by a hook-like recess for engagement by a tubular frame member of the rigid support member.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a manually-operable catch associated with said recess retains the rigid support member when fitted.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said catch means comprising a spring-loaded catch bolt slidably mounted in the main arm portion and engaging the end arm portion to act as a detent.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the main arm portion is of sandwich construction with a central section and cheek plates attached at either side thereof with the adjacent end of the free arm portion located between the cheek plates which support the pivot means, the catch bolt being housed within the central section and actuated by a knob disposed on the side of the main arm portion.

13. Apparatus for handling disabled or infirm persons, comprising a lifting arm mounted on a mobile chassis and means to raise and lower the arm, the latter being formed with an outer end portion movable, with be raised or lowered. 

1. Apparatus for handliNg disabled or infirm patients, comprising a lifting arm having a main portion attachable to a lifting column and a free end portion movable with respect to the main portion to either of two operative positions, in one operative position the arm being adapted for the attachment of patient support means employing a sling arrangement and in the other operative position of the free arm portion the arm being adapted for the attachment of a rigid patient support member, pivot means by which said arm portions are connected for movement of the free end portion between said positions about a horizontal axis disposed laterally of the arm, and manually operable catch means to lock the free portion in either one of said positions.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arm is adapted for attachment of a legless chair structure forming said rigid support member.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end arm portion when in said one operative position extends generally horizontally as a continuation of the main remaining portion of the arm.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end arm portion is provided with a lateral suspension hanger which projects from the arm and provides spaced suspension points for a patient support sling, for use when the arm is in said one operative position.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the suspension hanger is mounted in a rigid bearing adjacent the end of the arm, whereby it is constrained to turn about a substantially vertical axis when the arm is in said one operative position.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ends of the hanger project forwardly and downwardly from the free end of the arm when the latter is in said one operative position.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the hanger can be turned round so that the ends thereof extend alongside the arm portion and are thus out of the way when the arm is in said other operative position.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the free end portion projects mainly downwardly and slightly forwardly of the main arm portion when in said other operative position, so that it provides an upper attachment point for the rigid support member and a reaction support for that member at a lower level.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said upper attachment point is provided by a hook-like recess for engagement by a tubular frame member of the rigid support member.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a manually-operable catch associated with said recess retains the rigid support member when fitted.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said catch means comprising a spring-loaded catch bolt slidably mounted in the main arm portion and engaging the end arm portion to act as a detent.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the main arm portion is of sandwich construction with a central section and cheek plates attached at either side thereof with the adjacent end of the free arm portion located between the cheek plates which support the pivot means, the catch bolt being housed within the central section and actuated by a knob disposed on the side of the main arm portion.
 13. Apparatus for handling disabled or infirm persons, comprising a lifting arm mounted on a mobile chassis and means to raise and lower the arm, the latter being formed with an outer end portion movable, with respect to the remainder of the arm about a pivot defining a pivot axis disposed horizontally and laterally of the arm, between an operative position in which a slung patient support is attachable to the arm and another operative position in which an alternative patient support can be rigidly mounted on the arm.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein lifting means for the arm are enclosed within a column which is mounted on the chassis and along which the arm can be raised or lowered. 